Correlation between the Thickness of the Biopsied Bronchial Basement Membrane and the Clinical Findings in Patients with Bronchial Asthma

Abstract

The thickness of the basement membrane of bronchial tissues obtained bronchoscopically from patients with bronchial asthma and nine non-asthmatic subjects was measured. Furthermore, the correlation between the thickness of the biopsied bronchial basement membrane and the clinical findings in patients with bronchial asthma were studied. 1) The basement membranes of tissues biopsied from the bifurcation of the left upper and lower lobe bronchi and the bifurcation of right B^6 and the basal bronchus was 9.9μ±1.2 in mean thickness in patients with bronchial asthma, whereas it was 6.1μ±0.5 in mean thickness in non-asthmatic subjects. 2) The thickness of the bronchial basement membranes in bronchial asthma correlated to the duration of the clinical course. Thickening of the basement membranes was observed in bronchial asthma even within four years after the onset. 3) There was no significant correlation between the thickness of the bronchial basement membranes and the clinical type (atopic, infectious and mixed type). 4) There was no significant correlation between the thickness of the bronchial basement membranes and the severity (mild, moderate and severe) of asthma. 5) There was no significant correlation of the thickness of the bronchial basement membranes and methacholine-inhalation hypersensitivity in airways.